Since Shaq burst onto the world stage his rookie season, he has always been one of those basketball players that captivated the world. Larger than life physically with a personality to match.
Shaq turned sports marketing on its head and ushered the NBA into a post MJ era. Shaq appealed to a new, youthful generation - and landed in the perfect situation - playing for a fresh new franchise in need of building a fan base, quickly.
And Shaq delivered. From Orlando all the way to an impressionable 11 year old in Melbourne Australia - there were Magic caps on heads and Shaq jerseys on backs of every 90s kid, everywhere you went.
When the Hour Group announced they were bringing Shaq to Australia all the way back in 2019, I was first in line to grab tickets to an "Evening with Shaq".
Then COVID happened. Multiple date changes, delays and postponements.
But as with everything, the time of panic came to pass and Shaq finally made it back to Australia for the first time since the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Excitedly the day came for us to hear from him first hand some of his stories from the court, business (Shaq being part of the buyout of Reebok would be up there with one of the biggest boss moves), philanthropy and family life.
We were one of the lucky ones that had our meet and greet tickets honoured and this photo alongside my brother is one I'll cherish for ever.
Right up there with the Mamba Mentality Tour and high five from Kobe, this was a night I won't soon forget.
Fortune Favours the Brave.
Dan